Good news for Pluto

What is a planet? For years, astronomers have been debating that question, with the status of tiny Pluto hanging in the balance. Finally, an answer is in the offing. Today, the International Astronomical Union's Planet Definition Committee announced their proposal for a new, official definition of "planet." If the proposal is approved by a vote of IAU astronomers on 24th of August, the number of planets in our Solar System would swell from nine to twelve. And, yes, Pluto would be among them.

On August 24th, astronomers gathered at the IAU General Assembly in Prague will vote on the proposal. If it passes, the Solar System will have twelve planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Charon (a double planet) and 2003 UB313.

In addition to those, we may have still more planets in future. They are called 2003 ELG1, 2005 FY9, Sedna, Orcus, Quaoar, 2002 TX300, 2002 AW197, Varuna, Ixion, Vesta, Pallas and Hygiea. Those few that have still only catalogue names (like 2003 ELG1), will be named later.

Credits to The International Astronomical Union/Martin Kornmesser